1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 292 Accepting Disciples, Passing on the Legacy!
"I am also an inheritor of this tradition, and I have an obligation to participate in public welfare activities."

Li Ang's face darkened, his mood extremely agitated: "If you won't let me come to the Youth Palace, where am I supposed to go? My senior sister is already a city-level inheritor, and this matter hasn't had any substantial impact on her. What more do you want? Do you really want to force me out and make it known to everyone?"

"What do you mean by 'we forced you'?"

Zhang Jie found it unpleasant to hear and retorted sharply: "Just because Senior Sister became a municipal-level successor doesn't mean you haven't done anything wrong. Your existence is a thorn stuck in Senior Sister's heart. Seeing you reminds her of the past betrayal."

"You go."

Wang Lei shoved him hard, chasing him out: "Don't force me to punch you again."

"If you leave now, I can still consider Grandma Hu's reputation and save you some face."

Lin Xiyu's patience ran out, and anger surged: "If you don't repent and continue to make trouble, don't blame me for disregarding our fellow disciples and exposing all your actions to the public."

There was a moment of silence in the classroom. Li Ang was startled by her sudden outburst of energy and trembled all over.

"Creak."

Just then, the classroom door made a slight sound as it was pushed open from the outside.

Feeling guilty, Li Ang suddenly turned around and looked towards the door.

"What a coincidence, all of you fellow disciples are here?"

The person in charge of the youth center was startled by his ghost-like expression, blinked, and spoke with an awkward laugh.

"Sister Hu, is something the matter?"

Lin Xiyu quickly composed herself and greeted them with a smile.

"I've come to discuss something with you."

The person in charge of the Children's Palace, seeing her gentle smile, so different from Li Ang's, secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Does anyone here want to go to the community to carry out public welfare activities and teach residents in the area how to do paper cutting?"

"Do you even need to ask?"

Wang Lei thought to himself, "What a coincidence! Sister Hu arrived just in time. Li Ang is causing trouble under the guise of a charity event. It's a good opportunity to kick him out of the community and keep him far away from my senior sister, out of sight, out of mind."

"I go."

Lin Xiyu interrupted him before he could finish speaking.

"Senior sister?!"

Wang Lei and Zhang Jie both looked at her with disbelief.

Facing the two people's astonished gazes, Lin Xiyu smiled calmly: "Participating in community public welfare activities is the duty of inheritors and has nothing to do with personal grudges."

"It would be best if Xi Yu could participate."

The person in charge of the Children's Palace smiled with satisfaction and looked appreciative: "The relevant departments in the city attach great importance to the inheritance of traditional culture and have specially provided a venue in the community for everyone to carry out public welfare activities free of charge. You can discuss the specific time of the class with the community staff."

"understood."

Lin Xiyu sincerely thanked her: "Thank you, Sister Hu, for going to all this trouble."

"No trouble"

The person in charge of the children's palace covered his mouth and laughed: "You'll have to work hard from now on, running back and forth, and you won't get any rest on weekends."

This was said in a very tactful way, and anyone with a discerning eye could understand it.

Running between two places means taking care of both the youth center and the community.

Going to the community does not mean giving up teaching at the Children's Palace.

Is there only one community?

Upon hearing this, Wang Lei suddenly interjected, tentatively asking a question.

"more than."

The head of the children's palace glanced at Li Ang and smiled meaningfully: "Currently, there are four communities that can provide venues. You can choose freely according to your own actual situation, such as being close to home, having flexible teaching times, and not being limited to weekends, etc."

“I’ll go to the community too.”

Li Ang's mind was stirred when he heard that the teaching time was flexible.

He works odd jobs during the week and wants to spend his weekends with his girlfriend, so the flexible teaching schedule is perfect for him.

"can."

The person in charge of the children's palace was waiting for him to say this: "Xiao Li is busy with work, so he can stay in the community from now on and won't have to run back and forth."

Li Ang's smile froze.

Facing the person in charge of the Children's Palace, he dared not vent his dissatisfaction as freely as before.

"That `s a deal."

Having achieved his goal, the person in charge of the Youth Palace did not linger any longer: "You all continue with your work. I'll be leaving now. If you have any questions, you can come to my office after class, and we can discuss them in detail."

"Sister Hu, let me take you there."

Li Ang couldn't stay any longer, so he used the excuse of seeing someone off to leave the classroom as well.

"slightly"

Watching her departing figure, Zhang Jie playfully stuck out her tongue: "The eyesore is finally gone, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"This trip was worthwhile."

Wang Lei also said with a smile, "Senior sister won't have to worry about him anymore."

"Don't you think it's a good time for Sister Hu to come today?"

Lin Xiyu was puzzled: "It's like they calculated it precisely, arriving at the exact moment."

"What a coincidence that you mentioned, Senior Sister."

Zhang Jie chuckled: "Could it be that Sister Hu really can predict the future?"

"Can you predict the future?"

Upon hearing these four words, a figure suddenly flashed before Lin Xiyu's eyes.

She might not know about others, but there really was someone in her own family who claimed to be able to predict the future.

With the father's intelligence, he can make people suffer without even having to show up himself.

It would be easy to teach Li Ang a lesson by using someone else's help.

-

"Teacher Lin, are we your apprentices from now on?"

The clear, melodious voice of a child rang in her ears, pulling her back to reality.

Chen Xiang and the other six children couldn't wait any longer. As soon as Li Ang left, they eagerly gathered around him.

"Yes."

Lin Xiyu didn't have time to think about it further and nodded with a smile.

"Great!"

"We have a mentor now."

"From now on, we'll be fellow disciples."

"Not only junior brothers, but also junior sisters."

"Who is the senior brother and who is the junior brother among us?"

"I'm your senior brother."

"Why are you the senior brother?"

"I'm the oldest, so according to age, I should be the senior."

"Who said you're the oldest? I'm older than you."

"Me, me, me, I'm the biggest!"

"None of you can compete with me; I am the greatest."

"."

The children were very excited, chattering away like happy little sparrows.

"Stop!"

Wang Lei made a pause gesture, stopping the children's noise: "You haven't even become apprentices yet, and you're already arguing about who should be the eldest brother. Who said that the oldest person is the eldest brother? In my opinion, only the one with the best skills can convince everyone. Whoever cuts the best paper is qualified to be the eldest brother."

"That makes sense."

Zhang Jie nodded with a smile: "Back when the ten of us apprentices became her disciples, Grandma Hu said that craftsmen make a living by their skills, regardless of age or social status."

"Did you hear me?"

Wang Lei proudly adopted the airs of a senior martial uncle: "This is what your ancestral grandmother said, and no one is allowed to disobey it."

Do you know what the founding grandmother's name was?

Zhang Jie chimed in, "Those who don't know this aren't qualified to become apprentices."

"Uh."

The children fell silent. Six out of the seven children lowered their heads tremblingly, not daring to meet her gaze.

"I know."

Chen Xiang was the only exception: "Teacher Lin said in class that Grandma Hu's name is Hu Lan, and she is one of the first batch of craftswomen in JN City to be awarded the title of Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor."

"sure."

Zhang Jie's eyes lit up, and she patted his head affectionately: "Little guy, you remember it so clearly, which shows that you put your heart into learning it. Just based on your love for paper cutting, you deserve the title of senior brother."

“Since my junior sister has said so, it’s you.” Wang Lei made the decision for his senior sister: “From now on, you will be the senior brother of the younger generation.”

"Yay, I'm the senior brother now!"

Chen Xiang's eyes lit up, and he excitedly waved his arms and legs.

"Don't be so happy yet, let's become disciples."

Wang Lei found it amusing and teased him with a smile, "When performing the apprenticeship ceremony, you should offer tea. If there's no tea, then kowtow instead. All of you come over here, line up, and kowtow three times to your master each."

"hey-hey."

The children, unaware that their uncle was teasing them, obediently lined up in a row.

Don't listen to your uncle's nonsense.

Lin Xiyu glared at Wang Lei with feigned displeasure, then smiled and scolded, "This isn't a feudal society anymore; we don't kowtow now."

"If you won't kowtow, then bow."

Wang Lei chuckled and said, "We still need to show proper etiquette. Chen Xiang, you're the senior brother, so you should go first."

"Master, please bow to me as a disciple!"

Chen Xiang obediently stepped forward, cupped his hands in a proper bow, and performed a respectful greeting.

"This kid has potential."

Wang Lei's cheerful comments.

"Your movements are quite standard."

Zhang Jie also joked with a smile, "I've watched quite a few martial arts dramas."

"hey-hey."

Chen Xiang squinted and chuckled as he listened to their teasing.

"Get up."

Lin Xiyu smiled with relief and reached out to help him up.

Chen Xiang straightened up respectfully and stepped aside.

"It's your turn."

Wang Lei, adopting the airs of a senior martial uncle, solemnly issued orders.

The remaining children stepped forward one by one, imitating Chen Xiang's movements, and bowed in greeting.

Looking at the seven young faces, Lin Xiyu couldn't help but recall the scene from more than ten years ago when Grandma Hu accepted her apprentices.

Back then, Grandma Hu smiled so kindly and gently as she selected her ten favorite apprentices from among the children in the room.

At that time, she never imagined that she would one day have an apprentice.

In the same place, in the same classroom, they are repeating what the previous generation did.

Perhaps this is what inheritance is all about.

The craft is passed down from generation to generation, continuing uninterrupted in the long history of cultural inheritance.

-

Outside the Children's Palace.

After class, Gu Bin waited at the door on his electric scooter. When he saw his wife come out, he pointed to the back seat and gestured for her to get on.

"Why are you here?"

Lin Xiyu was pleasantly surprised.

"Come to pick you up."

Gu Bin waved and greeted Wang Lei and Zhang Jie.

"I'm so envious, senior sister. You're an old married couple and you're still so sweet together."

"You guys keep talking, we won't stay and be a third wheel."

Both of them were very perceptive; after exchanging a few jokes and laughing, they quickly ran off.

"I'm in a good mood."

Gu Bin looked away from the two of them and joked with a smile, "Looks like I was worrying for nothing. You two can handle it yourselves without me having to step in."

"you"

Lin Xiyu's mind raced, and she tentatively asked, "Did you go to see Sister Hu?"

"Guessed it right."

Gu Bin smiled and flattered, "I knew my wife was smart; she could guess without me saying a word."

"Is it really you?"

Lin Xiyu suddenly realized, "I knew it! How could Sister Hu have gone so conveniently? It was like she went there specifically to help us."

"Looks like my trip wasn't in vain."

Gu Bin joked, "It's still somewhat useful."

"What did you tell Sister Hu?"

Lin Xiyu was excited but also a little worried.

As Grandma Hu's apprentice, she really didn't want her reputation to be damaged because of the betrayal by her fellow disciple.

"Sister Hu is clearly more shrewd than you and I thought."

Gu Bin didn't keep her in suspense and said directly, "I came to see her, and before I even opened my mouth, she guessed my intentions."

"hiss"

Lin Xiyu took a deep breath.

Sister Hu had already guessed it; seeing her fellow students jumping around right under her nose, trying to hide it from her.

This is more than just a little awkward.

"Don't think about it anymore, it's not your fault."

Gu Bin patted her shoulder reassuringly and smiled comfortingly: "The one who's really embarrassing is in Sister Hu's office right now. Don't worry, Sister Hu will definitely handle this matter well. I can guarantee it 100%. Even if Li Ang goes to the community, he'll stay far away from you and won't have another chance to cause trouble or get in your way."

That would be best.

Lin Xiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Get in the car, I'll take you home."

Gu Bin took the opportunity to tug at her arm.

Lin Xiyu was preoccupied with something on her mind, and her brain reacted a beat slower, letting him press her into the seat.

"Hold on tight, let's go."

A triumphant smile appeared on Gu Bin's lips. He had finally gotten his wish and was enjoying a leisurely ride on his electric scooter with his wife, taking them for a stroll around Qushuiting Street.

-

Being selected as a municipal-level inheritor is a great joy. A certain doting husband took the opportunity to call his relatives and friends, from the babies' grandfather to his newborn niece, and bothered them one by one.

Just in time for the Spring Festival, relatives and friends were very kind and traveled from all over the country to congratulate the couple upon hearing the good news.

After the babies' one-month celebration, the whole family reunited once again.

People who live far apart and rarely see each other, even just a few times a year, are naturally very warm and welcoming when they finally meet.

The New Year's Eve dinner was exceptionally lively.

To liven things up at the dinner table, Lin Xiyu cut out a koi fish as a blessing, which drew enthusiastic cheers from relatives and friends.

Gu Bin's enthusiasm remained undiminished, and he led his grandchildren in setting off firecrackers.

The four little babies, under the care of the adults, happily participated, each holding a sparkler and waving it around with great joy.

-

The Spring Festival is a time to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.

May your family be reunited, and may you enjoy peace and happiness.

The clock struck midnight, and Lunar New Year's Eve passed quietly in a joyful atmosphere. The whole family was beaming with happiness as they welcomed the new year.

Grandma Gu was overjoyed and suggested taking a family photo.

Friends and family were very supportive and responded enthusiastically.

Gu Bin held Xixi and Lele, while Lin Xiyu held Pingping and An'an.

The couple sat next to the old lady in the middle of the first row.

Fu Zheng set up his camera, set the timer, and sprinted back at top speed.

"eggplant!"

Upon hearing the command, relatives and friends smiled broadly at the camera.

"Click."

The moment the flash went off, the innocent smiles of the 18-month-old babies were captured on this day.

(End of text)

(End of this chapter)